How Serious is Diverticulitis Disease?

Diverticulitis disease is a serious disease and may involve anything from a small abscess in one or more of the pouches to a massive infection or perforation of the bowel. The symptoms are very similar to those of appendicitis, except the location of the pain may be different.

Diverticulitis disease may be acute or chronic. The acute form can manifest itself with one or more severe attacks of infection and inflammation. In chronic diverticulitis cases, inflammation and infection may subside, but they may never clear up completely. The inflammation can eventually result in a bowel obstruction, which is indicated by constipation, thin stools, diarrhea, abdominal distention, and abdominal pain. If the obstruction persists, abdominal pain and tenderness will increase, and you may experience nausea and vomiting. If it is left untreated, it may lead to serious complications requiring surgery. Sometime the surgery can be extensive.

Bowel diseases such as diverticulitis disease, constipation, incontinence, and hemorrhoids are more easily treatable and preventable than many people who suffer from these diseases believe.

More people have these problems than statistics show because they do not seek treatment from a physician. What most people don't realize is that treatment of these disorders is most often on an outpatient basis, involving simple changes in diet and habits.

Diverticulitis disease was virtually unknown 100 years ago, but today many people develop the disease. This occurs because the colon is designed to work at low pressure and high volume. All the processed food people now eat has very little bulk in the form of fiber.No volume. So a higher pressure is needed to push, to void the waste. Pushing is not healthy, and can actually damage your colon and anus. The body should gently and easily eliminate waste. If the bowels are not exercised regularly and easily, otherwise your risk of diveticulitis disease can increase. You need to add adequate fiber to your diet. Medical professionals and research scientist agree, the body requires a minimum of 25 to 20 grams of fiber a day. How much do you get? The easiest way to add fiber to your diet is through the use of supplementation.

Are all fiber products created equal? Of course not! Are Coca-Cola and the no-name brand of cola at the supermarket the same? Of course not! What makes them different: "Content and Formulation". If you think you can go the supermarket or drug store and buy a popular, cheap fiber product that is made simply from psyllium husk, and that it will do everything you need, you may want to re-think. The best products are the ones that include a matrix of fibers, both soluble and insoluble. These products you can take regularly, every day. The benefits are numerous. Increased fiber may reduce your chance of heart disease, certain cancers, diverticulitis, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), spastic colon, and twisted colon.

Fiber supplementation is highly recommended. Make sure you supplement with a quality product that works for you.

Sometimes abscesses form around the infected diverticula, and if these go through the intestinal wall, something called peritonitis may develop. Peritonitis is a potentially fatal infection that requires immediate treatment. Sometimes scarring can occur, leading to a blockage of the intestine from the infection. An infected diverticulum can also reach an adjoining organ and form a connection, or fistula, between them. This most frequently occurs between the large intestine and the bladder, and it can lead to an infection of the neighboring kidneys. And if that is not enough, another potential complication of diverticulitis is severe internal and colonic bleeding.

If you think you have diverticulitis disease or diverticulosis, make an appointment to see your doctor. To help prevent these diseases and to provide comfort and possibly reverse these diseases, seek healing through proper diet combined with quality nutritional products. The maker of one of the most effective fiber products is Rexall. Rexall is now owned and operated by Unicity, maintaining the great quality, value and effectiveness of all of their products. Rexall's products and Unicity's on-line presence has greatly increased the availability of Rexall's proven products. It's a combination that has worked for many. If you are looking for a fiber product that has benefited so many like you,
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